Do you have a loved one who is considering a move to a retirement community? Perhaps you have a loved one who needs some assistance with daily activities or has been diagnosed with a cognitive ailment. Regardless, if you’re looking for a retirement community in Florida, you want to choose the right one.
This isn’t like going to the gas station and deciding on regular unleaded or premium. There are a vast array of choices when it comes to retirement communities – even if you’ve narrowed it down to just one city in Florida.
To assist you in your endeavor, we are going to run through about half a dozen mistakes that you should, if at all possible, avoid making. This will make the choice of a retirement community go a bit smoother.
Bad Timing – Waiting Too Long Or Rushing the Decision
There are two ways to go where timing is concerned. Putting things off until it becomes a dire emergency, or rushing into a decision only to find out you’ve made the wrong one in your haste. Both will have a negative impact.
You may end up on a waitlist so getting your name in ahead of time, or as soon as possible, is a good idea. Before there is a community opening, you may have to wait a while. On the other hand, making a decision too hastily can backfire in a big way. Careful planning goes into a move such as this. It’s a serious decision that needs careful consideration.
Failing To Take a Tour and Interact
Viewing a retirement community online is a good start. You get to see pictures, read about amenities, and you can even read a little bit about some of the attributes of the care team. The thing is, there’s nothing like being there in person. Look at a large collection of communities. Once you narrow it down to just a couple, this is when you need to plan for a tour.
Two things, more or less, will happen during this tour. You’ll look around and see, firsthand, what the community itself looks like. You’ll get a good feel for the food, rooms, amenities, location, and interactions that take place on site. Speaking of interactions, make sure you speak to residents and staff members whenever possible. Get to know what it’s like to not only live there but work there.
Failure to Consider Future Needs
Don’t base your decision solely on what your loved one currently needs. You have to think and plan ahead as much as possible. Plan for the unexpected if you can. Will your loved one’s health quickly decline? Will they be able to stay where they are if it does? Will your loved one receive all of the assistance they need in the future, or will they have to make another move – thereby having to go through all of this again? Financial planning should be a consideration, as well. Will your loved one be able to afford to stay in
Ignoring Your Loved Ones Wishes When Making the Decision
As much as humanly possible, it’s important to consider the wishes of your loved ones as they are the ones moving to the retirement community. If they are not cognizant and capable of giving you some helpful input, that’s one thing. Otherwise, it’s important they feel like they had some say in this entire process. It’s their life, after all. If you can, include them on the tour.
Failing to Research
It’s important you do your homework. Research every community carefully before narrowing it down to a couple. There is an abundance of information on the Internet, so there’s no excuse not to know everything you can about each and every option. While looking at the current condition of a community, try to do some research as to its history. Has it appeared in the news for any reason? Was there negative publicity? Have they received awards from certain organizations (for example, the Alzheimer’s Association)?
Check Out One of Florida’s Best Retirement Communities – Discovery Village At Palm Beach Gardens
Though it’s important to do your research and look at a number of communities, we encourage you to allow Discovery Village At Palm Beach Gardens to make the cut. We would love to talk to you about all we have to offer and meet you in person. We are confident that with our many amenities and the stellar environment in which your loved one will thrive, you will choose our community.
For general inquiries, please phone us at 561-801-7301. For specific sales and leasing questions, call 561-316-4626. You can also fill out our convenient online form to open the lines of communication.
Better yet, schedule a tour to see for yourself all we have to offer.
